Player Characters: Cavs on Bucks – Allen’s efforts lead to 14. Just victory

Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to their 14. Straight victory behind a strong defensive effort. They were locked from inside the jump to defeat Milwaukee Bucks.

Grades are based on our expectations of each player.

Donovan Mitchell

15 points (4-15 shooting), 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 4 revenue

It used to be rare for Cavs to win a game when Mitchell didn’t score. But this season it has become common.

Mitchell didn’t have it at any time tonight (and he wasn’t alone). His three-point shot was absent (1-7 shooting) and he did not compensate for it by getting to the edge. An evening this quiet from Mitchell would rarely mean good in the past. Still, Cleveland’s depth has enabled them to the coast this season, even when Mitchell has an ongoing game.

Character: c-

Darius Garland

13 points (4-13 shooting), 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 revenue

Survivor a bad shooting night from Mitchell or Garland alone would be one thing. Overcoming a bad performance from both – on the road to a truly competitive team – is something else.

Garland has been in a corner since he took a hard fall against New York weeks ago. He hovering about 30% off the floor over his last few matches and could really Use a Get-Back game before entering this West Coast Road Trip. Tonight it was non-but I have no long-term worries. Garland’s obligation to keep Cavs’ offense run smooth has not changed. He is just not burning hot from everywhere on the floor right now.

Character: D+

Jarrett Allen

11 points (5-6 shooting), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steal

Here’s the thing. Allen was pushed around, ran through and dipped on a handful of times tonight. Do you know what he didn’t do? Fold. Allen continued to fight Giannis Antetokounmpo and won the war in the end. Giannis set up an impressive 30 points, but it took him 24 field goals to get it.

You never fully stop a player of Antetokounmpos caliber. But Allen showed that you can get them to work for it – just as he did against Nikola Jokic earlier this year. Allen’s defensive effort was one of the differences in this game. This is the type of “put your head down and work through the” performance that you need from Allen in the playoffs.

Character: A.

MAX STRUS

17 points (6-11 shooting), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

This game could have been a dog fight with Cleveland’s violation struggling to find a rhythm. It was Max Strase that delivered 11 straight points in the second quarter and gave his team a pillow to work with that allowed Cavs to maintain control.

Strerics were red -hot from deep in the first half. He buried four of his five triangles in the opening district and tiled in nine huge rebounds to make the difference.

Character: A+

Evan Mobley

13 points (5-10 shooting), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

This game began as if it was to be Mobley’s evening. He scored 10 points in the first half and apparently had no concern about stretching the floor. Mobley spiked two three-pointers in the first quarter, but did not make another rest of the game.

Milwaukee’s defense is a major problem for them, but Brook Lopez is still a quality feature. Bucks worked to keep Mobley away from the paint and eventually succeeded after the opening half. However, it was too little too late when Mobley had already given Cavs a boost – just as Struse would give them in the second quarter. Cleveland has won matches of the selection all season, and this was another example of that.

Character: B.

De’andre Hunter

6 points (2-6 shooting), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block

Hunter has been super attaching since landing in Cleveland. Tonight he wasn’t.

The outside shot did not fall for Hunter, and this matchup did not call him to attack the edge. However, Hunter’s defense and contributions on the glass were meaningful. That’s another sign that hunter on an off-night is a game election for Cleveland.

Character: B-

Ty Jerome

9 points (3-9 shooting), 1 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Jerome didn’t shot the ball well either, but he always manages to score at the right times. His few field goals came on momentum -changing moments, and the pressure he gives as a ball trader ensured that Cleveland’s violation never felt like it was sitting in the mud.

Character: B-

Sam Merrill

9 points (3-6 shooting), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Merrill turned into another good shooting game and went 3-5 from Deep. He shoots a combined 7-9 over his last two matches. Cavs’ violation is already so loaded that a barrier from Merrill can be a backbreaker for most teams.

Merrill also played audio defense tonight. He is always active and committed, but his efforts actually led to unanswered shots this time, which is nice.

Character: A.

Dean Wade

9 points (3-3 shooting), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Cavs used to rely on a reasonable amount on Wade to play as this consistently. His defense and floor distance were a necessity in the past. Now? It’s a knockout stroke when Wade fills this role.

He hit three three-Pointers tonight, something that feels almost invincible to opponents, even when the rest of Cavs fights. Wade did not have much luck defending Giannis – but his timely shooting held Cleveland in a comfortable position.

Character: A-

Isaac Okoro

5 points (2-3 shooting), 1 rebounds, 1 assist

Okoro’s commitment to offense continues to look more natural. He buried a quick-trigger three in the second half and then rolled to the edge of an acrobatic set up just moments later.

Most importantly, Okoro dominated his minutes at Damian Lillard. He spent this time draping all over Lillard, forcing him to revenue and suppressing him from seeing daylight from three.

Character: B+